Iraqi-Syrian Meeting Discusses Humanitarian Conditions in al-Hol

The meeting of the Iraqi and Syrian foreign ministers in New York (Iraqi News Agency)
The meeting of the Iraqi and Syrian foreign ministers in New York (Iraqi News Agency)
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Iraqi-Syrian Meeting Discusses Humanitarian Conditions in al-Hol

The meeting of the Iraqi and Syrian foreign ministers in New York (Iraqi News Agency)
The meeting of the Iraqi and Syrian foreign ministers in New York (Iraqi News Agency)

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein has discussed in New York with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad the bilateral ties and the humanitarian conditions at al-Hol camp in Syria.

In a statement, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that both sides discussed means to bolster joint cooperation in a manner that guarantees security and safety in the two countries and in the region, in general.

Hussein stressed the significance of bilateral ties and called for abstaining from interfering in other countries’ affairs.

The Iraqi FM called for addressing the humanitarian situation at al-Hol camp and preventing ISIS from breaking through the camps of the displaced.

For his part, the Syrian FM praised Iraq’s stances towards the Syrian crisis and in supporting a peaceful solution to it.

He expressed his government’s hope to boost bilateral ties between Iraq and Syria, the Iraqi News Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Iraqi government sources affirmed that there are thousands of innocent families at al-Hol camp and returning them to Iraq has become a humanitarian duty.

Yet, some Iraqi parties reject this proposal and see that these families belong to ISIS.

Dr. Moataz Mohieddine, strategic expert on armed groups, told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Hol camp hosts tens of thousands of the displaced. A great number of them are Iraqi women and children.

Al-Hol camp is currently home to more than 40,000 Iraqis and around 10,000 families of different nationalities.



Syria's New Rulers Name Foreign Minister

Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (SANA)
Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (SANA)
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Syria's New Rulers Name Foreign Minister

Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (SANA)
Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (SANA)

Syria's new rulers have appointed a foreign minister, the official Syrian news agency (SANA) said on Saturday, as they seek to build international relations two weeks after Bashar al-Assad was ousted.

The ruling General Command named Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister, SANA said. A source in the new administration told Reuters that this step “comes in response to the aspirations of the Syrian people to establish international relations that bring peace and stability.”

The opposition Syria TV said Shibani, formerly known as Zeid al-Attar, was in charge of foreign affairs when the Al-Nusra Front transformed into the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.

Syrian media said that until 2024, he has been residing in Türkiye. Along with HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, he helped form the al-Nusra Front.

Shibani assumed several pseudonyms, including Nassim, Abu Aisha, Abu Ammar al-Shami and Hussam al-Shafei.

Born in 1987, he hails from the Hasakeh countryside. He was studying translation before his family moved to Damascus where he earned a degree in English Literature from Damascus University. He earned a master's degree in political science and foreign relations in Türkiye in 2022.

Syria's de facto ruler Sharaa has actively engaged with foreign delegations since assuming power, including hosting the UN's Syria envoy and senior US diplomats.

Sharaa has signaled a willingness to engage diplomatically with international envoys, saying his primary focus is on reconstruction and achieving economic development. He has said he is not interested in engaging in any new conflicts.

The United States, other Western powers and many Syrians were glad to see groups led by the HTS topple Assad.